ESP LTD Case CECFF

Bought this case for my ESP LTD EC-1000, and to start off, the guitar fits like a glove. It's almost too tight, but once the cushioning settles itself in, it does feel like the case is made specifically for this guitar.

My case came with an odd flaw, it seems that when they were drilling holes for the locking straps, they missed the mark twice on both sides, and I have these perfect small holes (nothing to be worried about) to the sides. Even though this should not happen when a case is over 150 Euros, it is what it is.

One huge negative about this case (and other reviews share the same opinion), it is the over-represented glue smell. Now, I cannot fault the case as it was initially lost by DHL and took them a good two months to find, so the case was probably not opened for 3-4 months or even more. However, even after leaving it "air out" for more than 3 days, the smell still stays. If this is a huge negative for you (and you don't want to do the extra cleaning), I would say be wary of this when purchasing a case for your ESP EC.

Another small remark I have is there is no "additional" cushioning for the pickup switch and you can see where it "pierces" through the inside cushioning. The cushioning inside does make it feel like it's safe, and I haven't had problems with it, but the case is really tight in terms of where your guitar goes.

As the case is really "shallow", this doesn't allow your guitar to move about when transporting it, which is amazing. However, the strings WILL press onto the cushioning - you really need to clean the cushions before putting your guitar in there as it will cause the strings to wear out a bit quicker (you can feel the "thickness" of the strings when your guitar stays in it for more than 2 days).

Why did I give this a 5 star then? This is a wonderful case and it WILL take care of your ESP EC. There is a bit of awesomeness to having "ESP" written on your case as well. The case does its job and most importantly, you can put it both horizontally and vertically and have no fear that it will fall over and hurt your guitar. I keep mine between my PC desk and my closet door.

The weight of the thing also adds additional confidence, with the guitar in it, the weight is almost 10 kilos, just something to keep in mind if you travel by foot to your practice place and whatnot.

The handle is VERY NICELY made, possibly the main reason why I kept the the case even if it did come with factory damage. It is NICELY cushioned for your hand, it is not super-hard cheap plastic, and it feels like the handle is leather-cased or a good leather-mimic case.

Final thoughts:
Is the case overpriced for what it is? Yes, yes it is. However, if you wish to have that ESP logo, the awesome comfy handle and a very snug case for your guitar - it can be worth. If you are only interested in protecting your guitar without these perks, your money could be spent elsewhere.

What expectations do you have from a case? You want it to be good looking, resistant and you want the guitar to feel protected. This case nails these aspects. When I put my guitar in it for the first time I noticed how well it fit. It wasn't too tight and there wasn't enough space for it to move and bounce around the case. It fit well, even with a thick leather strap. You also get a pair of keys for the case so you can lock it, preventing other people from opening it and making sure it stays closed even when you are on hte bumpiest of roads. It also has little box where you can store things.

If you have and ESP eclipse, don't hesitate. It's good

I currently reside within the UK which has some great suppliers of Guitar equipment but I chose to purchase my order with Thomann (Iron Cross ESP and case) because they provide that little bit more such as, fast delivery at a great price. In addition, Thomann offer all the latest products but also offer a nice selection of guitar cases so if you order your dream guitar you want it to be stored in a high quality case, right? This is important to me and not many guitar suppliers offer the hard flight-case as well.

With regards to the ESP Iron cross, it is superb a real pleasure to play, one of my favourite guitars. Passive and active pickups are superb, the weight balance is great and the design is pure "Hetfield"! Cannot believe the price for this guitar, it is truly amazing.

The last thing I would say about Thomann is there friendly staff, always willing to help you and answer any question you have. Yes, I am very happy and will definitely make my next purchase with Thomann.

It seems that this combination, ESP/Hetfield/Thomann is unbeatable!